MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Montevallo volleyball team is set to kickoff the 2024 season on Friday, Sept. 6 at Henderson State University for the 2024 Reddie-Tiger Invitational which will be hosted by Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University.
 
"I'm very proud of the progress that has been made this preseason," said Head Coach Haven O'Quinn. "We are further ahead than I thought we would be with such a young roster."
 
Montevallo enters the season picked to finish fifth in the 2024 GSC Preseason Coaches Poll. The 30-game match schedule includes 10 matches to start the season with the 2024 Reddie-Tiger Invitational on Sept. 6 through Sept. 7, the USC Aiken Invitational the following week on Sept. 13 through Sept. 14 and the PBC/GSC Crossover hosted by the University of Montevallo on Sept. 20 through Sept. 21. The Falcons first home game is on Sept. 20 when they host Lander University. The Gulf South Conference schedule features 10 different schools, all of which, the Falcons will play twice as Shorter and West Georgia exit the GSC while Trevecca Nazarene enters.
 
"What excites me is to be able to play with this group of girls," said senior setter Kalin Duncan. "We have a lot of talent and a lot to prove. Those rankings are meant to be proven wrong so I'm excited to see how far we can go with this team."
 
"I think it's so great for the conference that we play everyone twice now," said O'Quinn. "Everybody gets a home and away. A lot of different things can happen including sickness and injury so a team that you play in early October might be a completely different team come November."
 
The Falcons come into the season with nine new faces including seven freshmen. O'Quinn brings in a trio of Falcons who were named to the GSC newcomers watchlist including Nikol Antova, Ava Wind and Blakeley Robbins. Last season, Montevallo finished with a 13-18 overall record and a 10-6 record inside the GSC.
 
 "Everyone has had great moments in the gym in preseason and we have a lot of depth at each position," said O'Quinn. "Practice has been highly competitive, everyone is fired up during the preseason because we have some really great competition happening. Katie Wilkerson has definitely exceeded my expectations. What she's able to do offensively has been exciting to watch."
 
"Katie is such a consistent player all around," said junior middle blocker Claire Hayes. "A newcomer that has impressed me is Ava Wind. She makes it so easy for our setters to pick a hitter and set them up for success."
 
Haven O'Quinn returns seniors Colton Thompson, Aliyah Thompson and Kalin Duncan. Aliyah Thompson comes into her final season as a Falcon with over 300 kills in her career, Colton Thompson returns with over 2,000 assists in her career and Duncan returns for her second year in the purple and gold with 1,155 assists and over 50 aces in her career. Brooklyn Hudson comes in with the most kills from a returner from last year's team as she was three kills shy of 100 for the Falcons last year.
 
"As far as returners, Maggie (McColley) is someone that I feel like emerged in the spring and got a lot of confidence. She's consistently been able to terminate with control and I have so much confidence in what she is doing for our team," said O'Quinn. "Another is Danielle Greene. You watch her and everybody's is like, wow, she has really improved. Her contact point is just crazy high."
 
The Falcons hosted an exhibition match against Faulkner University on Tuesday, Sept. 3 where they swept the Eagles 3-0.
 
"It was great to be able to play our whole team," said O'Quinn. "Everyone shinned, had their moment and was able to get comfortable out there on our home court."
 
"The environment was so much fun," said Hayes. "The atmosphere and everything all around including the fans, our team, the energy, it was just amazing."
 
The Falcons home slate will include the first home GSC match on Tuesday, Sept. 24 against West Alabama. Montevallo will host their annual Sea of Purple/Pack the Sac game against Mississippi College on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Senior Day will take place on Saturday, Nov. 9 against Union University. They will conclude the 2024 regular season on Friday, Nov. 15 as they travel to Alabama Huntsville. Montevallo will be seeking their sixth consecutive Gulf South Conference Tournament appearance.
 
The 2024 season starts on Friday, Sept. 6 at 12:00 p.m. as the Falcons take on Henderson State University inside the Duke Wells Center in Arkadelphia, Ar.